Central Ohio Priest Accused of Sexual Abusing Child

By Denise Yost
NBC 4
July 13, 2012

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/jul/13/7/central-ohio-priest-accused-sexual-abusing-child-ar-1102085/

Rev. Thomas Brosmer

A long-time Columbus priest is off the job, placed on leave by the Diocese after an allegation of sexual abuse.

Rev. Thomas Brosmer, 68, has been placed on leave during an investigation into a claim that he sexually abused a child during his tenure at St. Nicholas Parish in Zanesville.

The alleged abuse occurred from 1969 to 1973, when Brosmer was between 25 and 29 years old.

Brosmer has been a priest for more than 40 years. Most recently, he served as the associate pastor at St. Cecelia Church on the city’s far west side.

According to a release from the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, the allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was reported to the church on July 2, 2012. The allegation was immediately reported to Zanesville police.

Three days later, the review board determined that the allegation was credible. The Diocese said that credible evidence does not mean guilt.

This is the first specific allegation of this nature against Brosmer.

The statute of limitations has passed, so if the allegation is true, there would be no criminal charges.

Bosmer has been a priest since 1969, and has been assigned to many Central Ohio parishes since then, including St. Agnes on the Hilltop, St. Matthew Church in Gahanna, St. Philip The Apostle on the east side, St. Brendan Church in Hilliard, and St. Michael Church in Worthington.

He was also a teacher at Bishop Ready High School, Bishop Rosecrans High School in Zanesville, andCentral Catholic High School in New Philadelphia.

His assignments include:

Teacher, Bishop Rosecrans High School, Zanesville, Ohio (1969-1973)

Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception Church, Dennison, Ohio (1973-1976)

Teacher, Central Catholic High School, New Philadelphia, Ohio (1973-1976)

Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Grove City, Ohio (1976-1979)

Teacher, Bishop Ready High School, Columbus (1976-1979)

Pastor, St. Agnes, Columbus (1979-1986)

Pastor, St. Matthew Church, Gahanna, Ohio (1986-1990)

Associate Pastor, St. Philip the Apostle Church, Columbus (1990-1993)

Associate Pastor, St. Brendan Church, Hilliard, Ohio, (1993-2000)

Associate Pastor, St. Michael Church, Worthington, Ohio (2000-2004)

and Associate Pastor, St. Cecilia Church, Columbus, (2004-2012)

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) issued the following statement: